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NNBABA | Page 5 TTENNISENNIS | Page 7 Leonard Djokovic routs shines against Tsitsipas to set former team in up Dimitrov Clippers victory clash in semis Saturday, November 2, 2019 FOOTBALL Rabia I 5, 1441 AH Evergreen Aguero GULF TIMES holds key to City’s title defence SPORT Page 4 RUGBY WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT Kolisi in search of a pot of gold for the England facing Rainbow Nation Reuters ma, the starting 15 will feature Cape Town seven non-white players. “What was most important was how Nelson Mandela used daunting task in outh Africa’s fi rst black Chester as a pin-up boy and in rugby captain Siya Kolisi doing so used rugby to unite the may have made an even nation,” Stransky says. more positive impact on “We went through a period of Sunity in the country than the around 18 months where sport iconic gesture of Nelson Man- gave us great belief and hope by dela donning a Springboks jer- bringing people together. We sey for the 1995 World Cup fi - not only won the World Cup, but fi nal against Boks nal, former fl yhalf Joel Stransky also the Africa Cup of Nations in says. 1996. We crossed many borders Stransky put over the deci- and came through that period of England, whose starting XV is unchanged, appear to have the more balanced side sive drop-goal as South Africa uncertainty in good shape. beat New Zealand to win the “SA Rugby has done, over the Webb Ellis Cup 24 years ago, and years, an enormous amount. I watched from the podium as a think what they are not good at beaming President Mandela tri- is waving a banner and telling umphantly passed the gold tro- everybody about them,” he adds. phy to captain Francois Pienaar. “If you go watch youth club It was a hugely symbolic mo- rugby, or schools rugby, it is very ment that off ered redemption much dominated by kids from for rugby, which until then had all backgrounds.” been seen as the preserve of Kolisi’s journey, rising out South Africa’s white minority of poverty in the crime-ridden and a symbol of the apartheid Zwide township near Port Eliza- system. beth to the brink of lifting the In a tumultuous period of un- World Cup, is a story that all in certainty in the country, where the ‘Rainbow Nation’ have ral- ordinary citizens fretted over lied behind. the future, Mandela’s wearing of Prop Tendai Mtawarira says the Springboks jersey sent out a the team recognise the signifi - clear reconciliatory signal. cance of the moment and also But almost a quarter of a cen- what a win yesterday would tury later the symbolism of a mean to the country. black man leading out the team “What Siya has achieved has in today’s fi nal against England been remarkable. For a young kid off ers even more positives for to rise above his circumstances a society dealing with rampant and become Springbok captain, crime, unemployment, corrup- and lead the way he has, it’s been tion and economic hardships. inspirational to all South Afri- “If Siya Kolisi can lift the tro- cans — from all walks of life,” he phy it will be massive, but just said in Japan this week. making the fi nal has already giv- Coach Rassie Erasmus also en us tremendous hope,” Stran- knows there is a lot more at stake sky told Reuters in an interview. on Saturday than a trophy. “There has been a great sense “Rugby is one of the things of achievement already and that that, for a few minutes and is on the back of our fi rst black sometimes a few hours, days and captain providing the inspira- months, if we win people seem England players attend tion.” to forget about their disagree- the captain’s run training The victorious 1995 squad had ments,” he said. session at the Fuchu just one black player in Chester “We are trying to win for Asahi Football Park near Williams, the iconic winger who South Africa, and not just for Tokyo yesterday. passed away following a heart the supporters, but because our attack on Sept. 6. country needs a lot of things and Today, when South Africa face we want to help fi x that.” England in the fi nal in Yokoha- AFP from injury, the only change to the side Tokyo that beat the Welsh, adds variety to their game. In this file photo taken on But the pack, backed up by the kick- October 27, 2019 South ngland face the daunting task ing of half-backs Faf de Klerk and Handre Africa’s captain Siya Kolisi of trying to match or even im- Pollard, will look to create pressure that celebrates winning the prove upon their stunning win leads to penalty opportunities for goal- semi-final match against over New Zealand when they face kicker Pollard, as happened against Wales at the International ESouth Africa in the World Cup fi nal. Wales. Stadium Yokohama in Eddie Jones’s men will head into to- No team has won a World Cup after Yokohama. Only one black day’s showpiece in Yokohama as favour- losing a pool match, as the Springboks player was wearing the ites after a superb 19-7 semi-fi nal win did in their tournament opener against Springbok jersey during the ended the All Blacks’ bid for a third suc- New Zealand. Rugby World Cup in 1995. cessive world title. But South Africa, bidding to be Today, for the World Cup But South Africa are probably one of crowned champions for a third time, final, there will be six of the few sides capable of repelling Eng- have yet to lose a World Cup fi nal with them on the pitch for the land in their current form, even if there the Springboks beating the All Blacks on kickoff . was nothing pretty about the Springboks’ home soil in the climax of the 1995 edi- grinding 16-13 semi-fi nal win over Wales. tion. England, whose starting XV is un- South Africa fi nished third at the last changed, appear to have the more bal- World Cup after suff ering a pool-stage anced side. shock defeat by a Japan side coached by A sound scrum and and lineout fea- Jones — the biggest upset in the tourna- turing the athletic Courtney Lawes and ment’s history. Maro Itoje is supported by a back row South African players train ahead of today’s final against England. Their form then dipped alarmingly, where number eight Billy Vunipola is however, with the Springboks losing alongside “kamikaze kid” fl ankers Sam That they are now so close to realising powers in successive weeks following a eight of 12 Tests in 2016. Underhill and Tom Curry, who have been that ambition is a testament to the Aus- 40-16 quarter-fi nal victory over Aus- But coach Rassie Erasmus has over- superb at the breakdown in Japan. tralian, who was in charge of his native tralia. seen a dramatic improvement since tak- Meanwhile dual playmakers George Wallabies when they lost the 2003 World “I wanted to develop a power style as ing charge two years ago, with a multi- Ford and captain Owen Farrell will look Cup fi nal thanks to England great Jonny the England have tough, big players,” said racial side captained by Siya Kolisi — the to dictate terms and unleash a backline Wilkinson’s drop goal in the closing sec- Jones, who promised his side would “play Springboks’ fi rst black skipper — having where talented fullback Elliot Daly and onds of extra-time. with no fear”. suff ered just one defeat in 11 Tests this wings Jonny May and Anthony Watson He was also a consultant to the Spring- “It suited us to play a power style of year. provide a cutting edge. boks side that beat England in the 2007 rugby and we will be tested on Saturday “We may not be favourites but these From the moment Eddie Jones took fi nal. as we are playing against the other most players will leave nothing in the tank,” over as England coach following the Victory today would not only see Eng- powerful team in the world.” said Erasmus. “We know how the wins in team’s woeful fi rst-round exit on home land lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for a sec- For all their immense strength, which 1995 and 2007 lifted the country — even soil at the 2015 World Cup, he has insisted ond time, it would mean they had com- includes a ‘bomb squad’ of six forwards if it was momentarily. the aim was to be crowned champions in pleted the unprecedented feat of beating on the bench, South Africa do not lack fi - “We want to give South Africa that ex- Japan. the three southern hemisphere rugby nesse. The return of wing Cheslin Kolbe perience once again.” Gulf Times 2 Saturday, November 2, 2019 SPORT RUGBY SPOTLIGHT Hamilton is hit by pioneering NZ take third spirit as Formula 1 charts new course Reuters fi ve in Texas, and he has every Austin intention of adding to the tally place with six-try after winning in Mexico last weekend. ack in the heart of Texas If Hamilton fi nishes eighth and a race track carved tomorrow then the title is won out of the scrubland, regardless but he will not need to BLewis Hamilton was hit score any points at all to contin- by the pioneering spirit yester- ue as champion if team mate and day and declared that he wanted sole rival Valtteri Bottas does not win over Wales to be the man to lead Mercedes win.